Electron tube apparatus



May 31., 1950 c. E. WARD 2,939,031

' ELECTRON TUEE APPARATUS Filed Aug. l. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill l 1^ @wer/5 5 WA @D IN V EN TOR.

, BY @z5/24@ May 31.., 1960 c. E. WARD ELECTRON TUBE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l. 1955 V r 5w. U w

May 3L 1960 c. E. WARD 2,939,031

ELECTRON TUBE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 U1 E w ATTOE/VEV United States Patent O ELECTRON TUBE APPARATUS Curtis Ward, Palo Alto, Calif., assignor to Varian ssociates, San Carlos, Calif., a corporation of Caliorma Filed Aug. 1, 1955, Ser. No. 525,631

13 Claims. (Cl. S13-250) This invention relates in general to electron discharge devices and more particularly to novel electron beam devices of the general type referred to in the art as receiving tubes, such as, for example, diodes, triodes, pentodes, double diodes, etc. The object of the present invention is to provide receiving tubes of novel structure and assembly which are rugged yet inexpensive and which are suitable for mass production and for utilization in the automatic construction of electronic circuits employing such devices.

One feature of the present invention lis the provision of receiving tubes utilizing ceramic insulators on which the electrodes are mounted, these insulators being in a plane parallel to the tube electrodes or elements and hav` ingy openings therein for accommodating lugs or tabs on the various electrodes whereby the electrodes may be suitably mounted on the ceramic insulators at a plurality of points without the necessity of brazing or welding or the like.

Another feature of the present invention is the provsion of electron discharge device in which the electrodes are xedly mounted on ceramic insulators at a plurality of points by bending ylugs on the electrodes over the insulators, the contact areas with the insulators being small so that inter-electrode capacitance is kept to a minimum.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of receiving tubes which are so constructed as to include a metallic bulb vacuum envelope and a ceramic base having printed circuit terminals thereon suitable for use in automatically assembled electronic tube circuits utilizing a plurality of such printed circuit ceramic wafers.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel electronic tube device constructed so as to include a ceramic base as a vacuum` envelope portion thereof, the ceramic base being suitable for cooperative mounting w'ith a plurality of other similar ceramic bases in a rigid, cage-like circuit-element-carry ing structure.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a perusal of the following specification taken in connection with the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an electronic circuit ofthe type made by automatic machinery utilizing the novel electron tube device embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the inner elements ofa double triode tube embodying the present invention,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a completely assembled double triode tube utilizing the elements shown in the exploded view of Fig. 2,

Fig.` 4 lis a cross section view of the novel triode taken alongl section line4-4 in Fig. 3, and i. Fig. 5 is an exploded isometric view showing the internal tube elements of a pentode constructed in accord- 'ance with -the present invention.

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Referring now to Fig. l, there is shown an electronic circuit assembly of the modular-construction type which, for example, may be a complete oscillator circuit or amplilier circuit similar to the type of electronic assem blies presently being produced by automatic machinery. The presently known automatically manufactured modular electronic circuit assemblies provide a plug receptacle of a standard type suitable for accommodating the prongs of the known type plug-in electronic tubes. The electronic circuit shown in Fig. l includes a novel electron tube 1 assembled by automatic machinery as an integral part of the assembly.

In Fig. l there is shown a small electronic tube 1 comprising a substantially square, thin ceramic wafer or base 2 which is of similar construction to and suitably cooperates with the remaining ceramic wafers 3 making up the modular circuit assembly. Each of the wafers 3 and the tube base 2 have a plurality of small notches 4 equally spaced around the edge of the wafers. There is, in addition, one marking notch 5 in each wafer for use by the automatic machinery in suitably aligning all of the wafers in cooperative alignment. Each wafer has a plurality of centrally disposed, spaced holes therein which accommodate conducting leads from the electron tube and circuit elements. For example, referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the wafer base 2 has eight holes 6 spaced in a circle inthe wafer within which mounting leads 6 are brazed, the leads 6 extending above the wafer into the tube 1. The lower ends of leads 6 are secured as by brazing to conductors 7 extending from the holes in the wafer outwardly to the associated notches 4, these conductors 7 taking the form of at lugs, as of nickel, brazed to the underside of the wafer. It should be understood that these` conductors may also be painted or printed on the wafers in accordance with known circuit practice.

Each of the wafers 3 in the circuit construction has holes therein similar to those shown in Fig. 4 through which `the terminal ends of corresponding circuit elements 8 (Fig. `l) may extend for electrical connection with the underlying conductors 7. These circuit elements 8 may be resistors or condensers or other circuit elements of desired values. Thus the conductors 7 serve to extend the'terminals of the various circuit elements 8 and the tube mounting leads 6 out to the edge of the wafers where vertical wires 9 brazed within the aligned notches 4 in the wafers serve to securely mount the wafers in a strong, cage-like structure and to electrically interconnect the various circuit elements in accordance with any desired circuit layout. The wires 9 may be interrupted, such as, for example, at points 11 in Fig. 1, for preventing undesired electrical connection between certain of the conductors 7 leading to aligned notches in the stacked wafers. The upper ends of the plurality of wires 9 are secured to an equal plurality of corresponding lugs 12 brazed to a mounting plate 13 which is` utilized to mount this completed circuit assembly in a larger assembly making up a more extensive electronic system. It is thus noted that this circuit assembly is produced in one integral unit, the tube `1 being lixedly secured to the wafer base, 2 which in turn is rigidly secured to the remaining wafer structure.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a hollow tubular cathode 14 suitably coated on opposite faces or surfaces with an electron emissive material 15. Spot welded to the two sides of the cathode 14 are four outwardly-extending cathode supports or brackets 16. The outer ends of these cathode supports are fixed as by spot welding to a cathodemounting member comprising a U-shaped spacer portion 17 and a pair of oppositelyextending mounting lugs or ears 18.

A pair of elongated support menthe 12 are pro- Y p 3 vided, each being formed of a substantially U-shaped channel member, which, for example, may be of nickel, having heater-connector arms 21 protruding from the tops thereof and insulator-mounting lugs or ears 22 extending outwardly `from the sides. In addition, there are four insulator-aligning arms lor lugs 23 extending outwardly from the sides of each support 19. The triode assembly on either side of the pair of support members 19 is identical and therefore only the triode assembly on the left-hand `side will be Ifully described, it being apparent that the right-hand assembly is constructed in the same manner, the similar circuit elements on the right-hand side bearingl similar reference numerals with I cathode surface and the control grids 29 and 29 1s not a function of the dimensions' of an insulator member but aprime mark.

A substantially rectangular element support and insulator 24 of, for example, ceramic is provided having a central opening 25 therein through which the stream of emitted electrons pass and having a plurality of mounting holes located therein. Mounted on one face or surface of the insulator 24 by means of lugs 27 which pass through the associated holes 28 in the insulator is an anode or plate element 26 as of carbun'zed nickel lhaving a substantially, U-shaped conguration, the ends of the lugs 27 being bent over the opposite surface of the insulator to securely hold the anode 26 on the insulator 24. lIn this position, the main surface area of the plate 26 coincides with the central opening 25 in the insulator 24. Y A control grid 29 having a substantially rectangular shape is provided and comprises an outer metallic frame 31 of, for example, nickel steel and a plurality of grid wires 32 stretched across the central frame opening and suitably mounted as by welding or brazing to the frame 31. -Four lugs 33 protrude from the frame 31 at the upper and lower edges thereof, these lugs 33 passing through the openings 34 in the insulator 24 and being bent over to xedly secure ythe grid electrode 29 to the insulator 24 opposite the plate 26.

The cathode 14 is mounted at one side on the insulator 24 by means of the lugs 18 which extend through openings 36, the lugs being bent over to securely fasten the cathode to the insulator. The U-shaped spacers 17 lserve to properly space the emitting surface 15 of the cathode `from the control grid 29.

-The insulator 24 has a pair of openings 35 located in slight protrusions extending from the opposite sides of the insulator. The lugs 22 on the support members 19 to a solid, unyielding insulator member such as 24. This multiple fastening to a solid member results in a very rigid structure which prevents microphonics or other vibratory conditions from arising. However, the actual electrical contact area between the insulators and the electrodes is kept to a minimum, thus neatly reducing the tendency to produce interelectrode capacity common in tubesheretofore constructed. Also, the rigidityv is enhanced since the insulators 24 and 24 are in avplane parallel to all` of the electrodes in the device, thus supporting the elements along their entire length and breadth.

Another advantage is that the spacing between the is determined by the metallic spacer portion 17 which can be dimensioned with great accuracy and which also i serves to space the cathode and the supporting insulators is that the spacing between the mounting holes in the pass through these openings y35 and are bent over to secure the insulator 24 on the support members 19, the arms 23 sliding over the side surfaces of the insulator 24 for preventing the insulator from rotating out of strict alignment with the support members 19.

A heater filament 30 extends into the hollow cathode 14, the ends of the filament protruding upwardly Where they are fxedly secured to the contact arms 21 on the support members 19.

The lower ends of the support members 19 are xedly secured on two opposed mounting leads or stems 6 sealed in the base 2. Suitable ribbon conductors 37 extend from certain of the other mounting leads 6 to the various circuit elements suchfas the grids 29 and 29 and the plates 26 and 26'. l

A square-shaped metallic envelope receiving cup 38 is vacuum sealed to the base 2. A metal bulb or. en-` velope 39 has its lower open end projecting into and vacuum sealed within the cup 38. The metal envelope is evacuated through a simple pinched-off tube 41. A suitable getter may be :employed in the vacuum tube if desired. The construction of this device is very exible and elements may be omitted or added as desired, additional mounting leads 7 being Yadded as necessary.

It should be noted that there is, in the case of each -insulator is not critical since the spacing between-the various electrodes does not idepend in any way upon critical spacing of the holes in the insulator. Another notable feature is that the elements are rigidly fastened to the insulators by being gripped by their associated bent lugs, none of the fastenings depending on spot weldings or brazings or the llike yfor holding or positioning. Still another feature to note about this novel tube is the fact that the ceramic base 2 and the internal ceramic insulators 24 and 24' permit high temperature exhaust of the metal envelope, thus permitting the use of flame or oven exhaust at high speeds with normal production equipment.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown another embodiment of the novel invention utilized in a receiver tube of the pentode type. In this particular device two electrode mounting or spacing insulators 42 and 43 are utilized. Mounted on the face of one of these insulators 42 is the plate `or anode 44, the lugs 45 on-the anode passing through the associated holes 46 in the insulator and being then crimped over. A suppressor grid 47 is mounted on the opposite side of the insulator 42 by means of lugs 48 and 48 and associated holes 49 in the insulator. This insulator 42 with its associated sup-j pressor grid 47 and anode 44 mounted thereon is in turn mounted on a pair of insulator-support members 51 and 52. These members each have L-shaped arms 53 on the upper ends thereof for connecting with the heater filament 54. The insulator 42 is mounted on the asso7 ciated lugs 55 extending from one side of the pair of mounting members 51, 52, the lugs 55 having a bend 56 therein, the surface of which contacts the :face of the' insulator 42 and thus serves to accuratelyV space the insulator 42 from the mounting members 51, 52.v

The second insulator 43 has a screen grid 58 mounted on one face thereof by means of lugs 59 and 59" and corresponding holes 61 and a control grid 62 mounted on the opposite face by lugs 63 and 63l and corresponding holes 64. The cathode 65 including the heat shield 65' is also mounted on the insulator 43 by means of spacer lugs 66the emitter surface of the cathode 65 being accurately spaced from the insulator 43 and thus from the control grid 62 by means of the U-shaped portion 67 ofthe spacer lug 66.` The insulator 43 is also mounted on the mounting members 5-1, 52 by means of `lugs 68 and associated mounting holes, 69, the insulator 43 being spaced from the mounting members 51, 52 by lug portion 71. The heater lament 54 which extends Within the hollow cathode structure 65 is xedly securedfon the' arms 53 extending from the mounting members 51,'V S2, these mounting" members also serving as the electrical connections to the lament. This. pentode .assembly is secured within a bulb serving as a vacuum envelope in the same manner as the double triode shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the mounting members being xedly secured on mounting leads imbedded in the base of the tube, the other tube elements such as the anode, grids, etc., being suitably coupled by conductors to the other associated mounting leads in the tube base. To facilitate the electrical connection with the various tube elements, certain ones of the lugs on the electrodes such as lugs 48', 59 and 63 are elongated so that, upon bending over during mounting of the grids on the insulators, the lugs extend beyond the sides of the insulators and thereby are readily accessible for electrical connection within the tube device.

It is, of course, obvious that the novel structural features disclosed in the drawings and described above may be utilized in the construction of various other types of electron tube devices. Since various modifications and variations may be made in the described apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention, the foregoing description is to be considered purely as exemplary and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An evacuated electron discharge device comprising a planar insulator having` an enlarged central opening therein and a plurality of smaller openings spaced around the perimeter of said insulator, a planar control grid mounted on one side of said insulator parallel thereto and in alignment with the central opening therein, said control grid having a plurality of lugs thereon extending through certain ones of said smaller periphery openings in said insulator and bent against the other side of said insulator whereby said control grid is securely aixed to said insulator, a cathode, a cathode support comprising a plurality of brackets projecting from the periphery of said cathode having outer spacer portions with spacer mounting lugs thereon, said brackets, spacer portions and spacer mounting lugs being securely aiiixed to said cathode, said spacer .portions abutting the said one side of said insulator and said spacer mounting lugs extending through certain ones of said periphery openings in said insulator and bent against the other side of said insulator, whereby said cathode is securely axed parallel to said insulator spaced definitely from and on the same side of the insulator as said control grid, and a planar anode electrode mounted in said discharge device so as to be parallel to and located on the other side of said insulator from said control grid, said spacer portion serving to tix the spacing of said cathode and grid.

2. In combination with the discharge device as claimed in claim l, a pair of mounting members securely affixed within said device, said mounting members having lugs thereon adapted to extend through certain ones of the periphery openings in said insulator whereby said insulator may be securely mounted within the discharge device.

3. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim l wherein said anode is provided with a plurality of lugs, said lugs extending through certain ones of said periphery openings in said insulator whereby said anode is securely affixed to said insulator on the surface thereof opposed to that surface on `which the control grid and cathode are positioned.

4. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 1 including mounting means `securely mounted within said discharge device, said means comprising a plurality of lugs extending through certain ones of said openings in the periphery of said insulator whereby said insulator is securely affixed to said mounting means.

5. In an electron discharge device comprising a planar insulator mounting member having a central opening therein and a plurality of smaller openings therein spaced around said central opening, a rst planar electrode having a plurality of lugs integral therewith extending through certain of said smaller openings and bent against the other side of said insulator whereby said rst electrode is securely mounted on one -face of and parallel with said insulator over said central opening, a cathode, a cathode support including a plurality of brackets projecting from the periphery of said cathode having outer spacer portions and spacer mounting lugs integral therewith, said brackets, spacer portions `and spacer mounting lugs being securely `alixed to said cathode, said spacer portions abutting said one side of said insulator and said spacer mounting lugs extending through a plurality of other ones of said small openings in said insulator and bent against theother side of said insulator whereby said cathode is securely affixed to and suitably spaced from the plane surface of said iirst electrode, said cathode structure being positioned on the same face of said insulator as said first electrode, and means for securely mounting said insulator within said discharge device.

6. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 5 including a thin ceramic base forming a part of the vacuum envelope of the device, said mounting means being securely aixed in said ceramic base, and a plurality of leads vacuum sealed in the base for electrical connection with the electrode elements the device.

7. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lirst electrode is a control grid.

8. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 5 including a second planar electrode having a plurality of lugs integral therewith extending through certain others of said smaller openings whereby said second electrode is securely mounted on the other face of said insulator parallel thereto and in alignment with said central opening, said cathode and said rst electrode.

V9. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second electrode is an anode.

10. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 8 including a second planar insulator member having a central opening and a plurality of smaller openings therein spaced around said central opening, a third planar electrode having a plurality of lugs integral therewith extending through certain of said small openings in said second insulator whereby said third electrode is securely mounted on one face of and parallel to said second insulator over said central opening, and means for securely mounting said insulator within said discharge device parallel to, aligned with, and spaced from said first insulator and associated cathode and electrodes.

ll. An electron discharge device as claimed in claim 10 including a fourth planar electrode having a plurality of lugs integral therewith extending through certain others of said small openings in said second insulator whereby said fourth electrode is securely mounted parallelto and on the other face of said second insulator in alignment with said central opening and said cathode and other electrodes.

l2. In a thermionic tube, a pair of spaced supporting post members having supporting lugs thereon, planar insulator members having `large central openings therein and smaller apertures near the edges thereof rigidly supported upon opposite sides of said post members by said lugs passing thro-ugh certain of said apertures in said insulator members and crimped over against said insulator members, a cathode interposed between said insulator members and aligned with said central openings therein and having supporting means comprising a plurality of brackets projecting from the periphery of said cathode l having outer spacer portions with spacer mounting lugs thereon, said brackets, spacer portions and spacer mounting lugs being securely affixed to said cathode, said spacer portions abutting one side of each of said insulators and said spacer mounting lugs thereon extending through certain of said smaller apertures and bent against the other sides of said insulators for supporting said cathode upon said insulator members and for accurately spacing the latter with respect to said cathode.

13. A thermionic tube as defined in claim l2 having planar grids interposed between and parallel to said cathode and said insulator planar members, said grids having lugs projecting through certain of said apertures 7 'in said insulator' members -and crimped over for supporting said grids on said insulator members.

Y n .References Cited in the le of this patent .-,V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,602,056

l vTebbs Oct. 5, 1926 1,638,557 Wilson Aug. 9, 1927 1,681,240" Johnson et al.Y Aug. 21, 1928 v,

8 Y 7 Blake Iune 25, V1935V Baier et al. Apr. 25, 1939 Seelen et al Julyy 18, 1939 Schrack Q. Dec. 31, 1940 Beggs Ian. 18, 1949 Diggle Apr. 11, 1950 Touraton et a1. June 9, 1953 Shapiro Feb. 9, 1954 

